Automobile-lock.



H. J. NEUMANN.

AUTOMOBILE LOOK.

APPLIOATION FILED 00125, 1912.

4 1 9 1 0 1 m M d w n e ITU a P HERMAN (l'. NEUIZIANN, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

AUTOM OBILE-LOCK.

Specification of Letters IE'atent.

Patented Mar. 1H0), 1914.

Application filed October 5, 1912. Serial No. 724,112.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that l, HERMAN J Neu- MANN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles, State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Automobile-Locks, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to looks for securing inthe neutral position the change gear lever of an automobile; and the prime object of the invention is the provision of a simple and elfective means that may be used in a simple manner.

Primarily, my invention comprises a member having a web or equivalent adapted to fit into one of the longitudinal portions of the l-l-slot, with horizontally projecting Wings, one on each. side of the lever in neutral position, so that the lever cannot be moved longitudinally (forward and backward) when the locking member is in place. The locking member is placed in the t-l-slot by merely dropping its web into one of the longitudinal slots thereof; and, in order to prevent its removal, it is only necessary to lock it to the change gear lever so that it cannot be moved upwardly. These are the general broad features on which I base my invention. It will be noted particularly that l primarily prevent the longitudinal move ment of the change gear lever; it is of no great consequence to what extent the lever may move transverselythat is, in a direction from one longitudinal slot to the other.

'1 am aware of other locking means of which the primary effect is to prevent transverse movement of the lever; but I am enabled with a simpler mechanism, than any of which I am now aware, to accomplish the locking of the change gear lever just asI effectually as with the more complicated mechanism. In fact, simplicity of my device is 'one of its prime features; and this simplicity not only reduces the expense of man ufacture of my locking ClBVlCO' but also increases the speed with which it may be applied. My device is of very neat and pleasing appearance.

The above mentioned features will be fully dealt with in the following specification, my improved device in its preferred form being shown in the accompanying drawings, in which: 7

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing my improved locking device. Fig. 2 is a per spectlveshowing the application of my locking device to a change gear lever and its l-l-slot. Fig. 3 is a horizontal plan section of the parts shown in F igv 2. Fig. 4t is a horizontal plan view, showing the application of my device in a modified form, to another type of change gear lever.

In the drawings 1 have shown a typical change gear lever, designated by the numeral 10, and an i-l-slot member designated by the numeral 11. The l-l-slot has two longitudin'al portions 11 and 11 and a portion 11 connecting the two longitudinal portions 11 and 11 position it is either in the slot portion 11 or immediately opposite that portion; and it is the direct object of my invention to hold the lever in this neutral position and to prevent its movement either forwardly or rearwardly (longitudinally of theslot portion 11 and 11 1 preferably form my locking member 15 with a web 16 which will fit more or less tightlyinto one or the other of slot portions ll or 11*. It is not necessary that ,the web 16 fit tightly; it is desirable that it fits more or less loosely so as to be easily inserted and withdrawn from the slot. It is not necessary that lever 10 be held in exactly its central position; it may be moved slightly forwardly or rearwardly without throwing the gears in the transmission.

I provide a air of wings or equivalent members 17 pro ecting one on each side of the lever position, the wings projecting horizontally over both of the longitudinal flat portions, and the opposing edgcsl? of the wings inclosing between them a substantially rectangular space within which lever 10 must be confined, in order to hold it in neutral positioi When the web 16 is in one of the longitudi,

'not he moved laterally nor downwardly;

and it is only necessary to prevent the upward movement in order to lock it in position and prevent its removal from engage ment with lever 10. ll preferably lock the member 15 in position by providing means for securing it to the lever 10. This preferably takes the form of an upwardly pro jecting lug 18 having an aperture 19 there-' in adapted to register with a similar aperture 20 in lever 10; I provide a lock 21 which will pass through these two apertures when registered so as to prevent the upward movement of the lug 18 and of the locking member 15. I

It will be seen that to use my locking demovement of the lever 10; but this is not absolutely necessary, as the lever might move transversely into the slot portion 11 and it would still be unable to move forwardly or rearwardly in the slot portions to throw the gears in the transmission.

In Fig.4 I have shown a modification of my locking device, which is applicable to a type of change gear lever commonly used. This type of lever comprises substantially three parts, viz., a hand lever 10 and two opposing transmission levers 30 and 30 which are pivotally connected at the lower ends to the transmission mechanism, and which are movable longitudinally of the slotted ways ll and 11 by engagement of the hand lever 10 with the recessed portions 31 and 31". In the. modification of my look ing device most suitable for this type of change gear lever I make the upward projectinglug 18 of sufficient width to always press the hand lever 1O into engagement or partial engagement with one or the other .of the transmission levers 31 and 31 and the wings 17 are made of such size and con figuration as to almost wholly cover the top of the Hslot. Inthis manner I eliminate any possibility of the transmission levers 30 and 30 being forced longitudinally of the slots 11 and 11, by the use of any small instrument which might be inserted through the openings around the locking device while it is in use. The partial engagement of the hand lever 10 with one of the transmission levers, in this case the one designated 31, prevents its movement either backward or forward while access to lever 31 is prevented by the wings 17 I wish to direct the following cla ims to the simple form of device herein shown and described; but without limiting myself to any minute details.

Having described my invention, I claim: 1. In combination with an H-slotted member and a lever projecting upwardly therethrough a locking member having a vertical web fitting into one of the longitudinal portio s of the H-slot, the web being of approximately the same length as the slot portion so that the web is allowed practically no longitudinal movement therein, horizontal wings projecting transverselyfrom the web and lying over both longitudinal portions of the H-slot one on each side of the central transverse portion thereof, and a lug projecting upwardly from the web between the wings; and a lock securing the said lug and lever together so that the locking member.

win s extending horizontally from the topof the web over the longitudinal portions of the H-slot on each side of the central transverse slot portion; and means to lock the member against vertical movement in the H-slot.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 26th day of Sept. 1912.

HERMAN J. NEUMANN. lVitnesses:

' HERBERT A. CoNNAnYHToN,

ELwoon H. BARKELEW.

Copies 0! this patent may be obtained for five cents, each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, 13.0. 

